Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-09-22

others were prompt to follow and trailed al
his back. A perilous path was that ir
darkness across the fifty feet of narrow
slippery string pieces.
1t was the movement patiently awaited
by the trained picket officer and his squad
OF steady nerved veterans, posted behind
the silent trenches.
A signal shot rang out and the foremost
intruder was pitched head-long into the
creek. Instantly every rifle of the reserve
singled out its mark and brought down its
man. The near and deadly aiming guns
did their work quickly, effectually. The
bridge beams and the opposite approach
were cleared in the space OF few seconds.
Thus opened in earnest, about l O'Clock
on the morning Of February 1st, notable
outpost detense-one of the most obstinate
and heroic of the war.
The brunt of attack was appointed to fall
upon the Neuse road bridge and its near
vicinity. As soon as the situation was dis
closed measures were taken to thwart the
enemy and as long as possible hold his
column in check. The long roll sounded in
camp, summoned the regiment to arms,
and the entire command was speedily pre-
pared for action.
Was the enemy in force? That at first
| could only be coDjectured. A wary soldier
was the outpost commander, and his habit
was never to be outwitted
A two company detachment was ordered
from camp and moved rapidly away to
strengthen the assailed reserve post.
While this welcome assistance was COW
ering miles march the squad Of bridge
| defenders stood steadfast to their toll
gathering. They had bravely met and
| blOOdily repplsed second attack, and still
third, on their works, which the deter
mined foe seemed bound to win at any
sacrifice. Before another and more for
midable force could be formed and hurled
against them, the resisting reserve num-
| bered a hundred and more men. Other
detachments were quickly moved to posi-
tions in support, and in comparatively lit
tie time every exposed point was measur-
ably covered.
Indications more and more pointed to a
gathering, host and messages sped from out
posts to city defenses putting New Berne's
garrison in battle preparation.
Angered at the defiance of his column
where but slight and momentary resist
ance was expected, Gen. Pickett summoned
regiment of veterans that had never
failed him elsewhere to storm and carry
the bridge. The picked men from Vir-
ginia sprang fearlessly forward to execute
the reckless mandate. Their crowding
numbers but swelled their losses. Against
the largely increased fire of the Federal
needle guns the Confederates went down
in dozens and scores. Many ended their
death struggle in the dark bosom of the
branch. The few that passed the stringers
and gained the barricade met their death
by ball or bayonet thrust.
No soldiers could do more than those
who tried and failed. But others still were
led or driven to slaughter. They encum-
bered the ground with dead and wounded.
They dyed the water of the creek with
shower of bullets no assailants could shun.
They counted many who went down to
the bridge and did not return.
A furious cannOnade followed. Whist
ling shot and screeching shell lent
new terrors to the dismal night. But
the solid and exploding bolts moved
down the underowth and tree-tops more
than the bravely resisting men. Falling
boughs and siashed saplipgs formed pro-
tecting environment about the sternly held
defenses.
At the height of the battery pounding a
Confederate line deployed to the west of
the crossing, and advancing to the creeks
bank disappeared upon theground. Protect
ed by thousand rifle barrels held above their
heads, body of pioneers was set to work.
The sharpe strokes of plying axes were
heard above the din of serving cannon.
The peril of a thanking column was
threatened. To avert danger like this
reinforcement of infantry and a battery
section were fastening from the city de-
fences.
Appearances showed the enemy was not
to be banked by the signal and bloody
reyerses at the bridge. The assailants un
masking to the dimensions of thousands,
were fast feeling their way to vulnerable
points. To the sorely pressed Federals
standing in the breech along the attenuated
stretch of outposts these were anything
but cheerful disclosures. But the situa-
ton, as critical as it appeared, was resolute-
ly faced.
The resounding axes revealed tie enemy s
purpose to span the creek by telling trees.
Unless interfered with crossing would
be speedily effected and the bridge de-
tenders taken in flank and rear.
With twenty men at hand to follow him,
a gallant officer volunteered to seek out the
axe men and drive them away. The des-
perate venture was at once entered upon,
and soon every gun of the score was hunt
ing for its mark. The axe. strokes one after
another ceased their threatening.
Quickly the bold interference was re-
sented. A line of fire lit up the opposite
nj
roar from the PROSTATE Confederate line.
Except the nights shelter little protection
was offered to the presumptuous squad
that dared to interrupt the tree cutting.
Exposed at first to a whitening storm OF
bullets, nearly half the party were killed
or wounded, among them their fearless
leader, seriously disabled from shattered
hip.
Falling back to positions of less ex-
posure, the unequal fight was renewed.
The gallant officer, helpless from
wounds, cost the lives of two as brave men
as he in removal from under fire.
The passage of the creek, long and
valorously disputed, was az yet nowhere
effected, but the power to prevent nomen-
tarily diminished. The incessant fire OF
musketry and artillery, largely directed
upon the bridge and its neighborhood, was
better trained, and positions held in sup
port were becoming untenable. Empty
cartridge boxes were calling for replenish-
ment. Sinking no service, however dam
gerous, the acting quartermaster, while de-
livering supplies of ammunition, met
brave mans death.
The awaited reinforcement Of field guns
and supports from the city seemed slow to
report. The outpost commandant, ad-
monished that he was being fought beyond
tho limit that hundreds could longer eX-